elliptical trainers the benefits and where to buy an elliptical trainer online

elliptical trainers more than a craze

Since bursting
on the fitness scene five years ago, millions of elliptical
trainers have been installed in health clubs and homes. Elliptical
cross-trainers are the only real breakthrough aerobic product
of the past few years, says Gregory Florez, spokesman for the
American Council on Exercise (ACE). "They are absolutely not
a gimmick."

According
to the American Sports Data, Inc., "the elliptical motion trainer,
continued to grow in popularity, with 6.2 million users in 2000,
up from 2.4 million when first measured in 1997."

Elliptical
trainers combine the natural stride treadmill and the simplicity
of a stair climber. On an Elliptical trainer, you stand comfortably
in an upright position while holding onto the machine's handrails
and striding in either a forward or reverse motion.

What makes
a trainer unique is the ability to offer a weight bearing workout
that puts minimal stress on the joints. Your feet never leave
the pedals of an elliptical trainer, thereby eliminating any
impact in your workout. Whether you go forward or reverse, and
regardless of the level of resistance, there is a reduced risk
of injury from overusing any one-muscle group.

For individuals
trying to burn calories and trim down, the weight-bearing arm/leg
exercise optimizes energy expenditure during self-selected exercise
of moderate intensity in overweight subjects. In recent studies
it was concluded that energy expenditure among overweight subjects
was higher on the elliptical machine than a treadmill, or leg
cycles with and without upper body motion. For overweight individuals
who are initiating a regular exercise program to decrease excess
body fat, they will find that elliptical treadmills optimize
energy expenditure.

Elliptical
Motion

The low impact,
intensive cardiovascular workout of an elliptical trainer is
achieved through smooth and natural motion. The fluid, non-jarring
motion makes the elliptical trainer ideal for anyone with back,
knee, hips and joint problems. The dual action machines utilize
both the legs and arm in providing a full upper and lower body
workout.

Motion studies
over the last decade show that the human foot moves through
an elliptical pattern as we walk, run or jog. Fitness products
that imitate and support this motion are the fastest growing
new category of cardiovascular equipment.

With scarce
time, a major factor in people's daily lives, total body exercise
can be truly beneficial. A total body exercise machine meets
three goals that are most desired - weight loss, time efficiency,
and motivation.

Total Body
Exercise involves more muscle mass in an aerobic exercise activity.
For the average person, the larger the muscle mass involved
in exercise, the more effective that exercise is for improving
fat mobilization, burning calories and building muscle endurance
in an efficient period of time, and at a reduced perceived rate
of exertion. The upper and lower body workout of a trainer utilizes
the quadriceps. hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and
biceps.

Elliptical
Technology

Within the
fitness industry, "Elliptical Technology" has become the generic
name for devices that incorporate the various linkages/mechanisms
in an effort to create a preferred pattern of movement for a
pair of foot pedals. The shape of this preferred movement is
intended to mimic the natural path of the ankle, knee and hip
joints experience during locomotion - walking, striding, jogging
and/or running.

In its most
rudimentary form, Elliptical Technology consists of a crank
arm (similar to the crank of a bicycle) that revolves around
an axis at one end and that is attached to a bar at the other.
The opposite end of the bar moves in a reciprocating, linear
pattern when the crank rotates. Since one end of the bar rotates
in a circular pattern while the other moves linearly, points
between the two ends of the bar move in elliptical patterns.
The points of the bar closest to the crank move in wider, more
circular ellipses (closest to a circle) and the points closest
to the other end move in thinner, flatter ellipses (closer to
a straight line).

The most obvious
advantage of Elliptical Technology is the lack of impact to
the lower limbs and back. Unlike a treadmill in which the foot
of the user is continuously lifted off of the running surface,
striking that surface upon the return, the foot and foot pedal
of an elliptical machine are in constant contact. Effectively
eliminating impact.

Impact force
is also felt on stairstepper devices. Although the foot often
remains in contact with the foot pedal when such devices are
used, the foot pedal undergoes a virtually instantaneous direction
reversal. Essentially, the foot pedal is moving in one direction,
must stop and then is pushed in the opposite direction. The
force required to reverse the movement of the mechanism results
in "impact" to the joints of the lower body.

The mechanism
incorporated in an elliptical machine moves in a smooth, continuous
motion and does not suffer the effects of direction reversal.
The exercise experienced on elliptical machines is weight bearing
(versus exercise bikes) which has ramification in the inhibition
of the onset of osteoporosis.

In addition,
although cycling is a well-recognized and safe tool to improve
cardiovascular conditioning, the elliptical modality is a more
functional pattern of movement. Since ellipticals simulate a
natural walking pattern, they easily lend themselves to an upper
body component of exercise. Many other devices, either due to
their mechanical structure (treadmills) or the pattern (cycling)
do not readily adapt to a total body configuration.

The various
manufacturers of elliptical machines have developed many iterations
of this basic technology. As a result, the field is full of
machines that have a different "feel" - the articulation of
the ankle, knee and hip is different. The true nature of Elliptical
Technology has been somewhat obscured by the preponderance of
these questionable devices. Many lack the design and mechanism
to duplicate a fluid, natural motion. As with all forms of exercise
equipment, there are cheap versions that offer negligible physical
benefits.

Due to the
natural motion, combined with an upper and lower body workout,
quality elliptical trainers will continue to grow in popularity
and their sales will substantially increase. They appeal to
a population that is increasingly overweight and looking for
an optimum workout for burning fat and calories. Elliptical
trainers also appeal to an aging population that seeks a total
body workout, minus the impact.

Smooth Fitness
offers their factory direct Smooth CE Elliptical Trainer, built
in Germany, designed by Porsche, with electronics by Siemens.